Petroclival meningiomas diagnosis, treatment, and results

Abstract

The most frequent tumor arising in the petroclival region is meningioma. Other tumors like chondrosarcomas, chordomas, and schwannomas of the V and VII cranial nerves, malignant tumors, and vascular tumors (basilar artery aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and cavernomas) are also found in this region [ 2, 19, 20, 25, 31 ]. Petroclival meningiomas are tumors of the skull base that present a formidable challenge to surgical resection because of its deep location and relationship to vital neurovascular structures. Petroclival meningiomas, though typically benign and slow growing, in the majority of the cases, can become large before clinical symptoms are evident. These tumors may involve or infi ltrate the skull base bone, the dura mater, the brain stem, and all important neurovascular structures of this region. The natural history of these meningiomas suggests progressive growth with progressive neurological deterioration and inevitable death.